Forgiveness, Mercy and Grace – 2

Click for part 1Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.1Heb 4:14 AV

Hold fast… Don’t give up! Jacob wouldn’t let go because he desperately needed a blessing.2Gen 32:24-29 NIV So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.3Heb 4:15 AV

Jesus has empathy and compassion for our struggles, he knows our feelings just as his own.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.4Heb 4:16 AV

Expository: Let us, without concealment (open confession), draw near to the seat of grace (the mercy seat where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us) that we may (with empty hands) lay hold of mercy (the kindness and goodwill towards the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to help them) and find grace (the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues) to help in time of need.

Consider:“come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy” Whom ever needs mercy should come boldly –does that not seem the opposite of what we naturally do?5Ro 5:6-8 NIV You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.6Ro 11:32 NIV “For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.”

Further Consideration: Look at the order: we are encouraged to come boldly before we obtain mercy and find grace. If I am waiting for mercy and grace before entering into the presence of God, have I not believed a lie, a grand lie of the enemy? Who else would want to prevent me from getting what I so desperately need except the enemy of my soul? Shall I not go immediately, especially if I love my sin and can’t help myself? Where does hatred for sin come from, if not God?

If we deserved mercy, would we even need it? We are instructed to come boldly to the God of mercy because we desperately NEED His mercy and grace! Doesn’t the blood of Jesus qualify us to receive the mercy and grace of God?

If we confess our sins (agree with God), he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.71Jo 1:9 AV

We must be diligent and continue to come boldly to the throne of grace; ignoring the lies that somehow we have to be worthy, to receive mercy and grace. How bold is someone who is starving, will they not pursue food at all costs?8Mt 5:6 AV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Mercy and grace are gifts that God desires us to receive. Confession is where the hatred of sin begins, shall we not confess our sins even if we continue to commit them over and over?9Mt 11:12 NIV From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

The enemy uses lies about us to drain our will to fight for what has been given us. If the enemy’s accusations are true we have only to apply the blood of Christ to effectively turn them into a blessing. We apply the blood of Christ through confession.10Mt 5:25 AV Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.11Lu 12:58-59 AV When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.